A doctor from Claremont has been convicted by a federal jury of smuggling unapproved foreign cancer drugs into the United States.

Vinod Chandrashekm Patwardhan, 66, was found guilty Friday in federal court in Riverside of one count of conspiracy, three counts of smuggling, and two counts of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead.

Patwardhan, who maintained medical offices in Upland and Chino, faces up to 71 years in federal prison when sentenced. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 20.

During a seven-day trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that from 2004 to his arrest in August 2008, Patwardhan smuggled more than $1.3 million in foreign cancer drugs from countries including India, Honduras, Panama and the Philippines.

The drugs hadn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Two of the doctor’s former employees have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges as part of the scheme and are set to be sentenced later this year, according to the news release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph B. Widman, of the attorneys who prosecuted the case, said the sentencing judge has the discretion to sentence Patwardhan to probation.